The Buddha teaches on a great tree (2nd), presenting an analysis of dependent origination and the causal links that give rise to suffering.

SN 12.56 A Great Tree (2nd)

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahārukkho. Tassa yāni ceva mūlāni adhogamāni, yāni ca tiriyaṅgamāni, sabbāni tāni uddhaṁ ojaṁ abhiharanti. Evañhi so, bhikkhave, mahārukkho tadāhāro tadupādāno ciraṁ dīghamaddhānaṁ tiṭṭheyya.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, upādāniyesu dhammesu assādānupassino viharato taṇhā pavaḍḍhati. Taṇhāpaccayā upādānaṁ …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahārukkho. Atha puriso āgaccheyya kuddālapiṭakaṁ ādāya. So taṁ rukkhaṁ mūle chindeyya, mūle chetvā palikhaṇeyya, palikhaṇitvā mūlāni uddhareyya …pe… nadiyā sīghasotāya pavāheyya. Evañhi so, bhikkhave, mahārukkho ucchinnamūlo assa tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, upādāniyesu dhammesu ādīnavānupassino viharato taṇhā nirujjhati. Taṇhānirodhā upādānanirodho …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hotī”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

At Sāvatthī.

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahārukkho.

“Mendicants, suppose there was a great tree.

Tassa yāni ceva mūlāni adhogamāni, yāni ca tiriyaṅgamāni, sabbāni tāni uddhaṁ ojaṁ abhiharanti.

And its roots going downwards and across all draw the sap upwards.

Evañhi so, bhikkhave, mahārukkho tadāhāro tadupādāno ciraṁ dīghamaddhānaṁ tiṭṭheyya.

Fed and fuelled by that, the great tree would stand for a long time.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, upādāniyesu dhammesu assādānupassino viharato taṇhā pavaḍḍhati.

In the same way, there are things that fuel grasping. When you concentrate on the gratification provided by these things, your craving grows.

Taṇhāpaccayā upādānaṁ …pe…

Craving is a requirement for grasping. …

evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti.

That is how this entire mass of suffering originates.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahārukkho.

Suppose there was a great tree.

Atha puriso āgaccheyya kuddālapiṭakaṁ ādāya.

Then a person comes along with a spade and basket.

So taṁ rukkhaṁ mūle chindeyya, mūle chetvā palikhaṇeyya, palikhaṇitvā mūlāni uddhareyya …pe…

They’d cut the tree down at the roots, dig them up, and pull them out, down to the fibers and stems.

nadiyā sīghasotāya pavāheyya.

They’d cut the tree apart, cut up the parts, and chop it into splinters. They’d dry the splinters in the wind and sun, burn them with fire, and reduce them to ashes. Then they’d winnow the ashes in a strong wind, or glide them down a swift stream.

Evañhi so, bhikkhave, mahārukkho ucchinnamūlo assa tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo.

In this way the great tree is cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, upādāniyesu dhammesu ādīnavānupassino viharato taṇhā nirujjhati.

In the same way, there are things that fuel grasping. When you concentrate on the drawbacks of these things, your craving ceases.

Taṇhānirodhā upādānanirodho …pe…

When craving ceases, grasping ceases. …

evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hotī”ti.

That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Qualities:

Attachment

Attachment

A mental fastening onto people, things, views, or states as “me” or “mine,” unwilling to release them. This clinging can give a sense of security and sweetness.

Also known as: acquisition, bond, clinging, grasping, holding on, possession, entanglement, bound, connected, taking as mine
Pāli: upadhi, upādāna, sakiñcana, mamatta
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Craving

Craving

A driving ‘thirst’ that reaches out toward experiences, identities, or outcomes as the place to find satisfaction—“if only I had that.” It spins stories of lack, binds the mind to becoming, and invariably leads to suffering.

Also known as: wanting, yearning, longing, lit. thirst
Pāli: taṇha, abhijjhā
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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026